Abstract

A COMPARATIVE CLINICAL STUDY OF THE MARMA THERAPY

AND THE ABYANGA THERAPY ON SAMDIGATA VATA IN KNEE
JOINTS

Dr : H.W.K.T. KARAUNARATHNA (BAMS)

Department of Shalyathantha
Gampaha Wicramarachchi Ayurveda Institute
University Of Kelaniya
Yakkala
Sri Lanka

Sandhigatha vata /Osteoarthritis is a type of degenerative and articular disorder affecting

mainly in weight bearing joints . As age advances vata dosha increases in an individual. This
increasing vata triggers and accelerates dhatu kshaya (depletion of tissues) and bala kshaya
(reduction of strength). Hence advancing age makes man prone to many diseases including
degenerative disorders. Sandhigata vata manifests when the deranged vata lodges in joints.
If the condition manifest in the janu sandhi (knee joint), it is called as janu sandhigata
vata (knee osteoarthritis) which limits everyday activities such as walking, dressing, bathing
etc, thus making patient disabled /handicapped in their old age. This has become a major
medical issue of the mankind in the modern world due to their life style changes, food
patterns

and mental status. Janu sandhigata vata is predominant in females (75% )than

males (25%). In this study it was observed that Mostly old age people ,38.3% of 51 to 60
years age and 36.7% of 61 to 70 years of age people are affected by this disease.
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The aim of this present study was to compare

the effectiveness and efficacy of the

Abyanga therapy and Marma therapy in reducing the pain (shoola) , muscle stiffness
(sthamba) and swelling (shotha) in Janu sandhigata vata. In this study total 60 patients
were taken , divided into 2 groups viz, group -A and group - B including 30 patients in each
group .Both groups were treated

orally with cup of Tripala decoction before meals in

the morning and the night, 2 pills of Yograj guggulu and 5 madatas (1250mg) of
Navarathna kalka after meals in the morning and night. Group -A patients were treated
with Abyanga therapy for 10 minutes using lukewarm Nirgundi oil and Abyanga therapy
was done in every other day for twelve consecutive weeks. Group -B patients were treated
with Marma therapy by using

lukewarm Nirgundi oil. Marma therapy was done

in

every other day for twelve consecutive weeks. Janu marma ,Ani marma and Urvi marma
were identified according to the description of Sushrutha samhitha chapter 6 and were
stimulated with circular movements respectively using the thumb and other fingers for 3
minutes. After conducting the study on both groups of patients, observation and results
were obtained .Statistical analysis shows that both Abyanga therapy and Marma therapy
were significantly effective on reducing
Abyanga therapy shows

significant

the cardinal sign and symptoms. Even though

effectiveness on assessment criterions , Marma

therapy shows more significant effectiveness than Abyanga therapy . Effectiveness of the
Marma therapy than Abyanga therapy has furthermore confirmed by overall effect on
therapies (graph 4).as compared to the Abyanga therapy , Marma therapy has shown
significant effectiveness on reducing signs and symptoms of Janu sandhigata vata and
Marma therapy can be used as an effective and non invasive

medical measure in the

management of Janu sandhigata vata.

Keywords: Sanadhigata vata, Osteoarthritis, Vata dosha ,Vata ,Dhatu kshaya ,Bala kshaya
,Janu sandhi ,Urvi marma ,Abyanga ,Marma ,Shoola,Shotha,Sthamba,Tripala ,Yograj
guggulu ,Madatas ,Navarathna kalka ,Nirgundi oil ,Janu marma ,Ani marma ,janu
sandhigata vata.